d20 supplement questions

[mOoEyThEcOw]

I am cuurently making something comparebal to a book the size of the PHB for d20 and i have few questions

-Can i call it d20******* with out getting in trouble? Should i call it Non-offical d20 ******?

-Can i repost modified stats of the 6 basic classes in d20 modern (i dont know what d20 usues so im basing it off of d20modern) in the document? How about skills(with and without same discreptions)

-How should i use the Open Gaming Licences and Open Came Content makers(how should i protect myself from wizrds coming and sueing me)?

I may post more questions in the future

Thank you for all your help.

 

[Starglim]

I Am Not A Lawyer

-Can i call it d20******* with out getting in trouble? Should i call it Non-offical d20 ******?

No and no. "d20" is a trademark of WotC and you can't use it except under the d20 Licence (not the same as the Open Game Licence).

-Can i repost modified stats of the 6 basic classes in d20 modern (i dont know what d20 usues so im basing it off of d20modern) in the document? How about skills(with and without same discreptions)

-How should i use the Open Gaming Licences and Open Came Content makers(how should i protect myself from wizrds coming and sueing me)?

I quoted these together because one answers the other.

The d20 Modern SRD (not the d20 Modern rulebook) is Open Game Content and you can copy it word for word if you want, provided that you include all the OGC that you copy under the Open Game Licence.

To do this, first read and understand the Open Game Licence. By my understanding you must

• state what parts of your document are Open Game Content (can be everything, unless it includes parts of other works that are not OGC and that you're using under different permissions)
• state that the Open Game Content may only be used under the Open Game Licence
• include a complete copy of the Open Game Licence
• include the copyright notices (Section 15) of every OGC work that you used
• include a copyright notice for your own product

If you do this, anyone in the world can copy and reuse the work that you declared as Open Game Content, provided that they in turn comply with the Open Game Licence.

 

[mOoEyThEcOw]

-So what should i name it because all it really uses is the base ideas, clases and skills?

-about the copyright notice what should i say as an updated version?

 

[Starglim]

IANAL

You should perhaps name it something interesting that describes what it is. Not enough information to answer.

However, bear in mind that the major reason for Wizards' trademarking words like "d20" and "Dungeons and Dragons", and claiming "Players' Handbook" as Product Identity, is so that nobody can sell their work as D&D unless they pay WotC money. If you do want to get sued, one of the fastest and best ways is to claim that your book is an updated D&D Players' Handbook.

The copyright notice should read

"15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Modern System Reference Document Copyright 2002-2004, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Bill Slavicsek, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Charles Ryan, Eric Cagle, David Noonan, Stan!, Christopher Perkins, Rodney Thompson, and JD Wiker, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Richard Baker, Peter Adkison, Bruce R. Cordell, John Tynes, Andy Collins, and JD Wiker.

MooeyTheCow's Book Copyright 2005 by MooeyTheCow"

Note that I copied and pasted the first 9 lines from the d20 Modern SRD. You must reproduce the Section 15 from your source exactly.

 

[mOoEyThEcOw]

well actually it really is just something i play with friends that im modifying for posting (it is also completly free)

from my understanding ANYTHING from the srd on WotC site i can modify and repost as long as i state i did so right?

(God i have so many copyright problems)

im also looking for a short name to use as a group/race name (they're humans but have slight diffrences) because the one i was using is copyrighted (i got the name from a friend(im bad at making up names)) BUT we prononce it DA-nee and they pronounce it dun-E (D'ni = spelling)

thxs again

also is this against the OGL:
"You MAY use this in your campaigns IF you give credit to me. You MAY NOT take credit for the making of this OR repost this with out my consent UNLESS it is unmoddified Open Game Content in which case it is not under my jursidiction (refer to the Open Game Licences at the end of this document.)"

 

[Starglim]

well actually it really is just something i play with friends that im modifying for posting (it is also completly free)

You probably can't afford a lawsuit, then. Posting something for free does not prevent you being liable for abuse of copyright.

I'm certainly not saying that Wizards will definitely sue you, but better not to leave yourself open to it.

also is this against the OGL:
"You MAY use this in your campaigns IF you give credit to me. You MAY NOT take credit for the making of this OR repost this with out my consent UNLESS it is unmoddified Open Game Content in which case it is not under my jursidiction (refer to the Open Game Licences at the end of this document.)"

That's not against the OGL, it is the OGL. Anyone who uses your OGC must give you credit and may not use or distribute the document except as allowed by the OGL.

If there's anything that you wrote yourself that you don't want people to copy, you can declare it your Product Identity.

However you can't use anything derived from the SRD (regardless whether you modify it) unless you keep it as Open Game Content.

Seriously, don't take my word for it, you should read and understand the licence before committing yourself to action based on it.

 

[mOoEyThEcOw]

well still thanks i cant get a word out of the OGL youve helped me understand a few things

-so i can claim certain parts as soley mine? like items? or just the basic idea behind the item for example guns when i type up their damage and settings?

-also are you intreasted in reading this? and are you reagrealy dm because i have a few questions in regaurding that to (prefences).

-i got out of the ogl if there is a breach i have 30 days to fix it from notification so i dont have to worry about getting sued out of the blue

-should i call it a supplement or do you have a better name that allmost completly rewrites the book.

-i also remeber reading that leveling up and xp is not included in the srd so does that mean i can post any thing about that because i was planing a table that calculated xp for encounters

 

[Starglim]

-also are you intreasted in reading this?

Sorry, I won't have time. If you post it for download why not give a link here? Others may be interested to have a look.

 

[mOoEyThEcOw]

i meant when i was done (which i wont be for a few weeks (im clearing this legal stuff first))

 

[Arkhandus]

I might be interested in perusing it and offering advice.

Regarding stuff you make up......basically what Starglim means is that, if any parts of your work are reprints from the SRD or are slight modifications to the SRD versions, you cannot claim those particular parts as Product Identity, they must be noted as Open Game Content. For example, if you modify the basic classes from the Modern SRD, you must declare them as OGC material, so far as I know.

Regarding Experience Points, leveling up, treasure/Wealth by level, treasure/wealth/XP rewards, and such, you cannot duplicate the tables or values (or their formulas, I think, but I could be wrong about the formulas). They are off-limits. You can present your own personal versions that work off of different ratios/formulas/whatever, but you cannot reproduce the versions of these particular bits from the D20 Modern book itself, nor from the 3E/3.5E D&D PH or DMG.

For the human-like race, just call them Terrans, Gaeans, Sa'paii (a play on Homo-Sapien), or something. *shrug*

Remember not to mention D20 in the name or document. I'm not sure, but you may be able to call it OGC Whatever Your Product Title Is Here. AKA "OGC Modern System: Gaea Campaign Supplement." You'd have to find out from more OGL/D20 STL - savvy folks as to whether or not your chosen product/document title would be legally fine.